HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDED AT IPSWICH

By Graham Potter | Friday, September 11, 2009

Racing stalled briefly after race four at Ipswich yesterday and then stopped completely after race five when jockeys embarked on industrial action. Their action was a direct consequence of the decision by the Australian Racing Board (ARB) not to heed the call of racing’s stake-holders to amend the new, controversial whip rule which was implemented at the start of the season on August 1.

Race-goers at Ipswich were disappointed and deflated, more at the fact that the ARB apparently couldn’t see the wood from the trees - and where that lack of vision was taking racing - than at the jockeys’ decision to make a statement. Some lamented the fact that they had a horse at the track, brought there with associated costs but now without a run, but even that cry generally ended with an endorsement of the fact that the whip rule absolutely needs to be modified.

The Stewards at Ipswich liaised with jockeys who, in turn, were getting directives from the Jockeys Association as the strike action unfolded from Ballarat to Hawkesbury to Ipswich.

After the fifth race a spokesman for the Stewards confirmed the following: ‘’On the basis of the Victorian and the New South Wales riders striking and not continuing on, they (the jockeys at Ipswich) feel they need to act in similar vein in order to support their fellow riders and the Jockeys Association.

“They have got the full support of all riders here. It was a unanimous decision from all the female, apprentice and senior riders and the delegation (consisting of Jason Taylor, Larry Cassidy and Cyril Small) acting on behalf of all those riders decided to stop riding.

“There is a rule pertaining to riders failing to fulfil their engagements. Certainly we have posed the question to the delegation that they have taken their rides in good faith. Those engagements were taken with particular outcomes in mind for owners and trainers for the race-meeting. It is under the rules that they have taken their rides in good faith.

“I certainly wouldn’t like to comment regarding any action that may or may not be taken (against the jockeys), but we certainly did remind of them of their obligations under rules before they settled on their course of action.”

Jockey Jason Taylor gave the view from the jockey’s room: “The way it panned out here (at Ipswich) was that it was very supportive from the trainers and all of the jockeys were all of a unanimous decision that we feel strongly about the changes to the whip rules that have been brought in.

“It has cast a lot of confusion over a lot of riders and we feel we are not getting the full potential out of our horses. When the rest (jockeys in Victoria and New South Wales) decided to act and go on strike on a belief we feel strongly in, we are under some obligation. You know we are all of the same opinion ... it is a general opinion ... it seems to be the opinion of everybody in the racing industry and the punters also.

“With the amount of infringements there have been with the whip rules, it not a feasible process that they have put in and we feel the proposal we put to them (ARB) is not an unreasonable proposal. We felt that it still addresses the issue of cutting down on the amount of times the jockeys use the whip.

“I think also too we are losing the big picture on why this cushion whip was introduced. It is a soft whip on these horses and it doesn’t harm the horse in anyway whatsoever, because it is a soft cushion whip. So I think they’ve just take it too far with this new rule.”

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